Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-12
A CLEVER nR1nLE

wise little red breast, but what do you
suppose an oriole wove into its nest? In
the lawn OF one of the prettiest homes in
the State Of Maryland pair of orioles Sc
lected tree in which to build. 1t was a
large fir tree, about forty-fve feet from
the house. The lady of the house was
sewing by one of the windows opposite this
tree early one beautiful summer morning
and. on being called away to some other
room she placed her spool of cotton on
the window-sill. When she returned she
found the spool was gone and, on looking
for 1t, discovered it on the floor of the
porch, which was just outside of the win
dow. She found that considerable
length of the cotton was unwound, and,
looking for the end of it, she traced it up
to the nest of the oriole, and saw the bird
busily weaving it into the rest. The lady
placed the spool in the window, and it was
shown as curiosity to all who visited the
house.
THE PARISH MINISTER'S QUESTIONS.
The parish minister in town not a
hundred miles from Dunfermline, Fife
shire, was recently going the round of all
the board schools in the course of syste-
matte examination. The day was warm,
and the minister, feeling exhausted on
reaching the school, took seat for few
minutes to cool down and recover his
breath but even while doing so he thought
he might as well utilize the time in con-
genial way, being naturally bit of wag.
So he addressed the boys thus: "Well,
lads, can any of you tell me why black
sheep eat less than white Sheep" There
was no answer to this question, and the
minister, after telling them it was be-
cause there were less of them, with pre-
tended severity said he was sorry to see
them in such a state of ignorance as not to
be able to answer such a simple question,
but he would give them another. "Can
any of you lads tell me what Bishop of the
Church of England has the largest hat ?"
Here the children were again cornered for
solution. "What don't you know"
said the minister, that the Bishop with
the largest hat is the Bishop with the
largest head? But, seeing | have been
giving you some pulling questions, will
now allow you to have your turn and put
some questions to me, to see if can answer
them" Silence fell upon the whole school,
No one, apparently, was bold enough to
tackle the minister. At length, from the
far corner of the room, little chap of
about years got up to his feet, and, with
an audacity that actually appalled, the
master, cried out, in shrill, piping voice,
but with the utmost sang troid. " Can you
tell me why millers wear white caps?"
The minister was perfectly astounded, and
for the life of him could find no solution
to the problem He began to feel some
what uncomfortable, while the master
frnrpaI ,rifh axrft,l fhraafon,nnr -, h,o
glance at the undaunted young culprit,
who stood calmly waiting reply to his
poser. NO, my boy" said the minister
white caps. What is the reasonw "Weel,
sir" replied the young shaver, "millers
wear white caps just to cover their heads"
1t is needless to remark that the roar
| which followed rather disconnected the
minister, and he had some difficulty after
wards in proceeding with his official ex-
| mination.-Scottish american.
THE LEOPARD SEAL.
This is one of the most valuable of the
seal family. His skin makes excellent
leather straps to use where great strength
is needed. You know that the skins of
some seals are used to make cloaks. Seal
skins that are to be used for that purpose
are cleaned and dyed by such SLOW, careful
processes that they are quite costly when
made into garments. When the seal is
killed his coat is rough, coarse-looking
yellowish- brown. Careful, patient work
men pull out the coarse hairs and leave the
bed of short hairs for the Overs to work
upon. Seal meat tastes good to those who
have been brought up to eat it but it is
not so nice to stranger. Seals are gener-
ally fat the oil is used for lamps, for cook
ing and to drink. Every part of the seal
is used for some purpose by the people who
live in the same country with them. The
noise made by seals is hoarse croaking, if
good-natured, and wicked snarl, if angry
Whales, although they belong to the same
order, have no fur, but shining skin;
they live in warm climates as well as cold
They are also fat and of immense size and
strength. Every part of the whale is val
liable for some purpose, although there is
not much food for men in his giant body
| Dolphins have also shiny skin; they are
the smallest creatures in this order. They
go in large numbers sailors say "large
schools" They are playful, but stupid.
A rag fluttering on the stern of ship with
a hook under it will catch dolphin, as he
springs up to play with it, and then the
passengers and sailors have a feast Dol
phin steak tastes like young pig, and the
ships cook knows how to cook it to a turn.
Child Culture.